Cultivation of Arable LctniL~&amp;gt;&amp;gt;Teafd~~Sccd~~Time, fyc. of facing. 271 



it is inclined to the retention of moifture, this fliould be done in narrow ridges of 

 about three bouts each, the furrow flices being laid as even and regular as poffible, 

 the fine mould from the furrows being raifed by the plough or fpade fo as to cover 

 the furface. But in lands that are fufficiently dry, and which are broken up from 

 ftubble, the ploughing may be deferred to a later period, and be laid in ridges of 

 much greater breadths and more flat. In either cafe the furface fliould be left in 

 as fine a ftate of mould as poffible for the reception of the feed. 



Seed. In collecting the feed, it fliould conftantly be taken from fuch plants as 

 are the moft perfect of their kind and the moft productive in heads, as there is 

 much difference in the quantity that is afforded by different plants, fome producing 

 nearly a hundred, while others do not afford more than three or four.* It fliould 

 be fuffered to remain till it becomes perfectly ripened, and be ufed while frefli, as 

 fuch as has been long kept feldom vegetates in a perfect manner, 



The proportion of feed that is mof-Hy employed on the acre is from one to two 

 pecks,f but fome make ufe of a larger quantity. It is difadvantageous, however, 

 to fow the feed too thick, as the plants arc injured in their early growth by ftand- 

 ing tooclofely together. 



Time and method of /owing, Crops of this fort are commonly put into the earth 

 about the beginning of April. As the feeds vegetate in the moft expeditious and 

 perfect manner when put in while there is a considerable portion of moifture in the 

 foil, the fowing ihould never be deferred much longer than this period. 



It is moftly fown in the broad-caft method evenly over the furface, in the man 

 ner that is practifed with turnips. But before this is performed the land fliould 

 be well harrowed down, in order to afford a fine flate of mould as a bed for the 

 feed. It is then to be covered in by a flight harrowing with a light fhort-tined har 

 row. 



This fort of feed may Hkewife be fown in rows in the drill method, at the dif- 

 tance of eight, twelve, or more inches from each other, in the fame way as that 

 of the turnips. This method is not, however, much employed by thofe who arc 

 in the practice of railing teafel crops. 



After-culture. As much in the cultivation of crops of this kind depends on the 

 land between the plants being kept perfectly clean and free from weeds ; in having 

 them fet out to proper and fufficient diftances ; and in having them well earthed 

 up, it is neceflary that the cultivator fliould fee that thefe operations are performed 

 in a perfect manner. The digging between the plants is ufually executed by 



* Billingfle^ s Corre&ed Agricultural Report of Somcrfet, f Ibid. 



